Soap: (Jeremiah 2:22; Malachi 3:2) Heb. borith, properly a vegetable alkali, obtained
from the ashes of certain plants, particularly the salsola kali
(saltwort), which abounds on the shores of the Dead Sea and of the
Mediterranean. It does not appear that the Hebrews were acquainted
with what is now called "soap," which is a compound of alkaline
carbonates with oleaginous matter. The word "purely" in
(Isaiah 1:25)
(R.V., "throughly;" marg., "as with lye") is lit. "as with bor."
This word means "clearness," and hence also that which makes clear,
or pure, alkali. "The ancients made use of alkali mingled with oil,
instead of soap
(Job 9:30) and also in smelting metals, to make them
melt and flow more readily and purely" (Gesenius).
